Defend Democracy Project
@defdemocracy.bsky.social
DDP is dedicated to ensuring that American voters determine the outcome of our elections.
The Trump Administration’s Justice Department is suing Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, and D.C. for denying the department’s demand for a copy of the state’s voter registration list -- which includes personal information.
madison.com/news/state-r...
madison.com/news/state-r...
Trump administration sues Wisconsin over personal voter info
The Wisconsin Elections Commission previously denied the Justice Department’s demand for a copy of the state’s voter registration list, including voters’ personal information.
madison.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The Trump Administration’s Justice Department is suing Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, and D.C. for denying the department’s demand for a copy of the state’s voter registration list -- which includes personal information.
madison.com/news/state-r...
madison.com/news/state-r...
Trump is suspending the DV1, a program that lets people from low-immigration countries gain green cards.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Trump administration suspends green-card lottery after Brown shooting
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem said she is pausing DV1, a lottery that lets people from low-immigration countries gain green cards.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Trump is suspending the DV1, a program that lets people from low-immigration countries gain green cards.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
A Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge, Hannah Dugan, was convicted by a federal jury on a felony obstruction charge. Higher courts will now have the opportunity to determine whether this prosecution crossed the lines that protect the judiciary from executive overreach.
www.npr.org/2025/12/18/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/18/n...
A federal jury finds Milwaukee judge guilty of obstructing immigration agents
A jury returns a guilty verdict in the case of Hannah Dugan. The Milwaukee judge was accused of allowing an undocumented immigrant defender to evade immigration agents
www.npr.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge, Hannah Dugan, was convicted by a federal jury on a felony obstruction charge. Higher courts will now have the opportunity to determine whether this prosecution crossed the lines that protect the judiciary from executive overreach.
www.npr.org/2025/12/18/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/18/n...
Federal data this week showed unemployment rising to 4.6 percent. Polls continue to find most Americans struggling with housing, groceries, and utilities. Yet, Trump used a primetime White House address to claim prices are falling.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Trump touts accomplishments, attacks Democrats amid persistent concerns over economy
The president’s prime-time speech leans on blaming Democrats for affordability issues.
www.politico.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Federal data this week showed unemployment rising to 4.6 percent. Polls continue to find most Americans struggling with housing, groceries, and utilities. Yet, Trump used a primetime White House address to claim prices are falling.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
The Senate rebuked Trump by signing off on legislation requiring the Pentagon to turn over violent footage of strikes against suspected drug smugglers. The bill also reins in the administration’s ability to limit troop deployments abroad.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Senate passes defense bill that defies Trump and forces sharing of boat strike videos
The president is still expected to sign the legislation, which now heads to his desk.
www.politico.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
The Senate rebuked Trump by signing off on legislation requiring the Pentagon to turn over violent footage of strikes against suspected drug smugglers. The bill also reins in the administration’s ability to limit troop deployments abroad.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Ohio Governor DeWine is considering eliminating Ohio’s four-day grace period for absentee ballots, a rule that would have rejected nearly 7,800 ballots in the state's 2024 election day and would significantly cut off access to voting for Ohioans.
ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/12/17/g...
ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/12/17/g...
Gov. DeWine weighing whether to eliminate Ohio's absentee ballot grace period • Ohio Capital Journal
Every election, in almost every Ohio county, absentee ballots show up at county boards a few days after Election Day. And in many counties, some of those otherwise valid ballots don’t wind up counting...
ohiocapitaljournal.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Ohio Governor DeWine is considering eliminating Ohio’s four-day grace period for absentee ballots, a rule that would have rejected nearly 7,800 ballots in the state's 2024 election day and would significantly cut off access to voting for Ohioans.
ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/12/17/g...
ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/12/17/g...
Former special counsel Jack Smith will testify today in a closed-door deposition on his prosecution Trump’s mishandling classified documents and the president’s role attempting to overturn the 2020 election
www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/p...
Jack Smith testifies in closed-door hearing that it was his decision to charge Trump, according to testimony obtained by CNN | CNN Politics
Former special counsel Jack Smith on Wednesday defended his criminal investigation into President Donald Trump in a closed-door deposition before the House Judiciary Committee as he faces scrutiny fro...
www.cnn.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Former special counsel Jack Smith will testify today in a closed-door deposition on his prosecution Trump’s mishandling classified documents and the president’s role attempting to overturn the 2020 election
www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/p...
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles admitted that the unfair accusations against New York Attorney General Letitia James might have been "retribution," admitting that when Trump has an opportunity for retaliation, he will “go for it.”
www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles says Trump 'will go for it' when there's an 'opportunity' for retribution
Wiles' comments came in wide-ranging interviews with Vanity Fair for a two-part profile of her, which she called "a disingenuously framed hit piece."
www.nbcnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:18 PM
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles admitted that the unfair accusations against New York Attorney General Letitia James might have been "retribution," admitting that when Trump has an opportunity for retaliation, he will “go for it.”
www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...
The US military has conducted more strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats, bringing the death toll to at least 95 people.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/15/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/15/p...
US military strikes 3 more boats in the Pacific Ocean, killing 8 | CNN Politics
The US military conducted strikes against three alleged drug-trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, killing 8 people, according to US Southern Command.
www.cnn.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The US military has conducted more strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats, bringing the death toll to at least 95 people.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/15/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/15/p...
White House officials responded to the ballroom lawsuit, falsely claiming Trump had the authority to destroy the East Wing. But experts say he did this without required reviews or congressional approval and violated multiple federal laws.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Trump administration hits back at lawsuit over White House ballroom
The Department of Justice argued the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s legal challenge impedes the president’s right to renovate the White House.
www.politico.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
White House officials responded to the ballroom lawsuit, falsely claiming Trump had the authority to destroy the East Wing. But experts say he did this without required reviews or congressional approval and violated multiple federal laws.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
A New Hampshire superior court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of visually impaired voters regarding a newly passed absentee voter law. The new law places a disproportionate burden on people with disabilities by making it harder to vote.
www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025...
www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025...
Judge strikes down challenge to NH absentee voting law
A group of visually impaired voters challenged the new law that mandates an identification, alleging it places an undue burden on people with disabilities.
www.nhpr.org
December 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
A New Hampshire superior court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of visually impaired voters regarding a newly passed absentee voter law. The new law places a disproportionate burden on people with disabilities by making it harder to vote.
www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025...
www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025...
Trump is facing a federal lawsuit that is seeking to halt all construction on his $300m White House ballroom. Preservationists are accusing Trump of violating multiple federal laws by destroying the building without reviews or congressional approval.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump sued by preservation group over $300m White House ballroom project
National Trust looks to halt construction, claiming Trump tore down historic East Wing without needed permission
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Trump is facing a federal lawsuit that is seeking to halt all construction on his $300m White House ballroom. Preservationists are accusing Trump of violating multiple federal laws by destroying the building without reviews or congressional approval.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump’s Justice Department has now taken legal action against 18 states, all of them places he lost in 2020, in a push to obtain private, unredacted voter information.
www.npr.org/2025/12/12/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/12/n...
The Justice Department has now sued 18 states in an effort to access voter data
The Department of Justice has sued four more states as part of the Trump administration's far-reaching attempt to access sensitive voter data. The DOJ is also suing Fulton County in Georgia.
www.npr.org
December 15, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Trump’s Justice Department has now taken legal action against 18 states, all of them places he lost in 2020, in a push to obtain private, unredacted voter information.
www.npr.org/2025/12/12/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/12/n...
The House of Representatives approved a measure to overturn a Trump-led executive order eliminating union rights across several federal agencies.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
House votes to repeal Trump order ending union rights at federal agencies
Twenty Republicans joined with Democrats to overturn the order, but it faces steep odds in the Senate.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The House of Representatives approved a measure to overturn a Trump-led executive order eliminating union rights across several federal agencies.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
The FDA is planning to put a “black box” warning, its most serious warning, on Covid-19 vaccine. This marks the Trump administration's latest move to undermine vaccines without providing any scientific proof to do so.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/h...
FDA intends to put its most serious warning on Covid vaccines, sources say | CNN
The US Food and Drug Administration intends to put a “black box” warning on Covid-19 vaccines, according to two people familiar with the agency’s plans.
www.cnn.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The FDA is planning to put a “black box” warning, its most serious warning, on Covid-19 vaccine. This marks the Trump administration's latest move to undermine vaccines without providing any scientific proof to do so.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/h...
The Indiana Senate voted against a Trump-backed congressional redistricting map: a rare rebuke against Trump by his own party. More than half of the Republican senators joined Democrats in voting against the bill.
www.reuters.com/world/us/ind...
www.reuters.com/world/us/ind...
Indiana Senate rejects Trump-backed congressional redistricting
The Indiana Senate on Thursday rejected a new congressional map that would have boosted Republican chances of keeping control of the U.S. House of Representatives in next year's midterm elections, dea...
www.reuters.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The Indiana Senate voted against a Trump-backed congressional redistricting map: a rare rebuke against Trump by his own party. More than half of the Republican senators joined Democrats in voting against the bill.
www.reuters.com/world/us/ind...
www.reuters.com/world/us/ind...
A federal judge ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man wrongly expelled to El Salvador, calling it “troubling” that the Trump administration threatened to re-expel him and kept him in custody for nearly four months.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/u...
Judge Orders Abrego Garcia’s Release From ICE Detention
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:29 PM
A federal judge ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man wrongly expelled to El Salvador, calling it “troubling” that the Trump administration threatened to re-expel him and kept him in custody for nearly four months.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/u...
Homeland Security Secretary Noem is expected to face questioning from House Democrats on Thursday regarding her agency’s lawless and aggressive immigration enforcement operations, especially in the cities of Los Angeles and Chicago.
www.independent.co.uk/news/kristi-...
www.independent.co.uk/news/kristi-...
Homeland Security Secretary Noem faces scrutiny over immigration policies at a House hearing
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is expected to face tough questions from Democrats over the Republican administration's immigration policies at a House hearing
www.independent.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Homeland Security Secretary Noem is expected to face questioning from House Democrats on Thursday regarding her agency’s lawless and aggressive immigration enforcement operations, especially in the cities of Los Angeles and Chicago.
www.independent.co.uk/news/kristi-...
www.independent.co.uk/news/kristi-...
The Trump administration must immediately end its current deployment of California National Guard troops in Los Angeles, according to a federal judge. The judge determined the troops had been deployed illegally.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...
Judge Says Trump Must End Guard Deployment in Los Angeles
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The Trump administration must immediately end its current deployment of California National Guard troops in Los Angeles, according to a federal judge. The judge determined the troops had been deployed illegally.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/u...
Thousands of records on Ghislaine Maxwell, a close confidant of Jeffrey Epstein, have been ordered to be released by a federal judge who ruled that access to the records is required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Judge orders release of ‘voluminous’ records in Ghislaine Maxwell case
A federal judge ordered the release of “voluminous” material gathered for the prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of aiding Jeffrey Epstein.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Thousands of records on Ghislaine Maxwell, a close confidant of Jeffrey Epstein, have been ordered to be released by a federal judge who ruled that access to the records is required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Miami has elected its first woman mayor, Eileen Higgins, and its first Democrat in 28 years. Higgins defeated the Trump-endorsed Republican in the race.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Miami elects first woman mayor, marking first win by Democrat in 28 years
The defeat of the Republican in the race, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, gives added momentum to Democrats heading into the 2026 midterms.
www.politico.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Miami has elected its first woman mayor, Eileen Higgins, and its first Democrat in 28 years. Higgins defeated the Trump-endorsed Republican in the race.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Trump has refused to release the video of the aggressive second strike on the alleged Venezuelan drug boat that killed two struggling survivors, after previously promising reporters he would “certainly release” the footage to the press
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-b...
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-b...
Trump walks back support for releasing video of second boat strike
Over the weekend, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to commit to releasing video of a September boat strike operation.
www.cbsnews.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Trump has refused to release the video of the aggressive second strike on the alleged Venezuelan drug boat that killed two struggling survivors, after previously promising reporters he would “certainly release” the footage to the press
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-b...
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-b...
Roberts Court will decide whether to lift the cap on how much political parties may spend on candidates, a GOP effort that Democrats warn would plague campaigns with a greater risk of corruption and hand power to wealthy donors.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/09/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/09/p...
Supreme Court to debate GOP-led effort to lift campaign spending caps | CNN Politics
The Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in a case initially filed by then-Senate candidate JD Vance that could lift the cap on how much political parties may spend in coordination with candidate...
www.cnn.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Roberts Court will decide whether to lift the cap on how much political parties may spend on candidates, a GOP effort that Democrats warn would plague campaigns with a greater risk of corruption and hand power to wealthy donors.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/09/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/09/p...
After failing to win the Nobel, Trump receives FIFA’s hastily invented “Peace Prize” from close ally, FIFA's President Infantino.
apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com/article/trum...
FIFA gives Trump a peace prize in a departure from its traditional focus on sport
FIFA gives its new peace prize to President Donald Trump. It’s an unusual break from tradition for the sport-focused soccer organization, whose president has become a close ally of Trump.
apnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:28 PM
After failing to win the Nobel, Trump receives FIFA’s hastily invented “Peace Prize” from close ally, FIFA's President Infantino.
apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com/article/trum...
Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswold has refused a demand from the Trump administration for access to sensitive voter information.
www.cpr.org/2025/12/05/j...
www.cpr.org/2025/12/05/j...
Colorado's Secretary of State argues feds have no right to voter data
Secretary of State has refused the latest request for data on voters.
www.cpr.org
December 8, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswold has refused a demand from the Trump administration for access to sensitive voter information.
www.cpr.org/2025/12/05/j...
www.cpr.org/2025/12/05/j...